Ryan Mullen's hopes were scuppered by bad luck today but he feels the Nations Cup races are not an impossible challenge (Photo: https://www.facebook.com/#!/JoyceGhijs?fref=ts)
By Brian Canty
The Irish U23 team completed their Nations Cup schedule at the ZLM Tour in Holland today, performing well in difficult conditions. Ryan Mullen was their best placed finisher when he crossed the line in 57thplace, 4:17 behind winner Yoeri Havik of the host nation.
The only other Irish finisher was the team’s other protected rider, Conor Dunne. He came home in the grupetto over 13 minutes back but had been sick all week with food poisoning. Jack Wilson, Connor McIlwaine, Cormac Clarke and Daniel Stewart were all listed as non-finishers.
Mullen said he was disgusted with today, getting caught behind a crash that ended his hopes of a result.
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“I got caught behind a pileup with about 20k to go. I chased like mad for a few kilometres to get back on and I managed that but then after another few kilometres the group kicked and the speed went up and I just tailed off. So I came in on my own after losing touch with 5k to go."
"I really wanted to hang on and wanted to get a performance for the team and for the support. I felt as though the team deserved a good result we've been fighting so hard but that’s bike racing.”
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“But I’m really happy though because I know it’s not an impossible task, these races. I felt incredible once we got on to the finishing circuit and genuinely felt a top 15 or top 20 was on the cards but I was undone by a bit of bad luck. The wind was savage all day and split the race to bits."
"It was a really tough day but I know I've got a lot out of it and the team were awesome, I really appreciate the support I got off the guys all week."
After 10km today when the riders hit Zeeland bridge the race split into echelons in the cross winds. The three lead groups were to merge, with Mullen and Dunne in that leading section. Wilson was there for a while, but having been sick this week he could not hold his place. Dunne would eventually get tailed off as well and Mullen’s hopes of a result were ended when he got caught behind the crash.
Today’s race concluded a busy week for the riders in which they rode three Nations Cups events, starting with the U23 Tour of Flanders in Belgium last weekend and the La Cote Picarde in France midweek.
In Flanders, the team were very unlucky with punctures, with Dunne and Newry man Cormac Clarke the only two finishers. Clarke’s ride was an excellent showing in his first year at U23 level. And given a longer period of racing abroad, it appears he could make a very quick transition from being one of the leading juniors in the country last year to being able to compete well in tough international U23 races.
In Picarde, Dunne was forced out because he was ill and some of the team were again hit by mechanicals when the hammer was down. Wilson and Mullen were the only finishers there.
With most of the team inexperienced at this level, the riders did not score any points in the Nations Cup series. Those points count towards qualifying nations for the U23 World Road Race Championships in Florence in September. And while there are still months of racing left to qualify, it will be a difficult task.
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